Chat with us, powered by LiveChat Skip to main content
Echo360 Status: 

EchoVideo: Universal Capture for Admins

Hannah Petty
  • Updated

Monitor Recordings

As an Administrator, there are multiple ways to monitor recordings happening on managed devices (Universal Capture: Classroom, or a Pro / Pod) to ensure that captures are occurring, the proper inputs are being captured, audio levels are correct (visual indicator only), etc.

Universal Capture Device

The Universal Capture: Device interface is only accessible if your institution has enabled single sign-on (SSO) for devices and configured it on the device. Contact Echo360 support for more information on Device SSO.

The legacy device Web UI with all of the Admin tools you are used to is still accessible by default from the Rooms tab by clicking Log in to Device on any UC-capable device (Universal Capture: Classroom, or a Pro / Pod).
To access UC: Device, access the legacy device Web UI and remove the /advanced portion of the URL. Alternatively, navigate to the device's IP address or domain name in your web browser.

Room Card showing 'Log in to Device' button

Make a note of the URL for a particular Room to provide Instructor access to UC: Device (or legacy device Web UI) if needed.

Universal Capture Online

If enabled, Administrators can log into UC: Online via the Rooms tab by clicking View Room for any device (does not apply to legacy SCHDs). This will launch the Online interface for real-time monitoring of the application. When Idle, Admins can preview different inputs for monitoring or configuration purposes. During a recording, Admins will see the VU meter and images for the active inputs (1 thumbnail per second). Remote control of the application is also possible, including the ability to Start, Pause, Finish (Stop), or Extend a recording.

Room card with 'View Room' button

Make a note of the URL for a particular Room to provide for Instructor access to UC: Online if needed.

Universal Capture on Appliances

The Universal Capture: Device and Universal Capture: Online UIs are available on Appliances. See Universal Capture on the Pro and Pod for more details.

Workflow

  1. Review the Universal Capture Features.
  2. Review the Universal Capture Specifications.
  3. Review the Pro or Pod Specifications.
  4. Install the Pro or Pod.
  5. Configure the Pro or Pod device defaults.
  6. Assign the device to a room.

Once setup is finished and the hardware device is assigned to a room, you can schedule VOD or Live captures for the room.

Universal Capture Classroom

Universal Capture: Classroom (Classroom mode) is a cross-platform application that allows you to use a Mac or Windows PC in a classroom as a managed capture device.

In addition to the capture application installed on the classroom computer, Academic Staff can easily access the UC: Device or Online interface via URL to set up ad hoc captures for impromptu lectures, or control scheduled recordings if necessary.

Workflow

  1. Review the Universal Capture Features.
  2. Review the Universal Capture Specifications.
  3. Download and Install Universal Capture software.
  4. Assign the device to a room.
  5. Configure device defaults (input sources and generic device logins).

Once setup is finished and the Universal Capture device is assigned to a room, you can schedule VOD or Live captures for the room.

Which MAC address is used for Room assignment?
Universal Capture attempts to find the WiFi MAC address as the first choice since nearly all supported computers have a built-in WiFi adapter. Still, many do not have a built-in Ethernet adapter. Universal Capture only uses the MAC address to identify and report the computer to the EchoVideo server for Room assignment. It doesn’t matter which adapter is used for network access at any given time. So, even if the computer uses an ethernet connection when initially setting up Universal Capture, it will still attempt to use the MAC address assigned to the WiFi adapter.

Required state for Universal Capture - Classroom computer
To record scheduled lectures successfully:
 -- The Universal Capture - Classroom computer must be turned on.
 -- On a Mac, a user must be logged into the computer to capture inputs and provide permissions for the program to use the microphone, camera, and desktop screen.
Instructors should log in before beginning the class. Even if they do so after the recording has begun (with blank inputs), the inputs set for the schedule will be recorded after the user logs in. 

Universal Capture Personal

Universal Capture: Personal (Personal mode) is a stand-alone version of the Universal Capture desktop application that cannot be assigned to a Room. Personal mode is not accessible through the Online or Device interfaces and will therefore never allow for remote control or monitoring of the application. Recordings are created on an ad hoc basis and can be published to whichever Institution the user is logged into.

Workflow

  1. Review the Universal Capture Features.
  2. Review the Universal Capture Specifications.
  3. Download and Install Universal Capture software.